[NPI_97]

I found a nice 2007 Alpine White 328xi Coupe with Coral Red Interior and 79K Miles locally. However the car was involved in a crash and had damage to the structure (front and back bumpers) The car is now completely "fixed" according to owner and he has had it for 2 years and everything is fine. He is asking $10,500 which seems good. I will be able to see and test drive it in person tomorrow, but what do you guys think of a buying a car with a salvage title? is it always bad? Give me some opinions or words from experience.

[SuaveSpoolin]

Price is good! Id take it

[ihc95]

I would never buy a car with a salvage or rebuilt title. Honestly for the same money I'd rather have something a bit older and with higher miles but with a clean title and extensive service history. Just my opinion.

[mansito]

Stay away from it. You won't be able to sell it or trade it, or basically will have to give it away if you want to sell it.

[e92_enthusiast_1]

I think salvage titles have a stigma. If you can trust the owner and there's paperwork to document all the fixes technically the car has passed inspection and deemed structurally sound enough to be allowed on the road without being a death trap. Thing is though also after an accident on a a car or any mechanical/electrical product for that matter tend to have gremlins creep up on you.

[xXSupa]

Do you plan on driving it for a long time, or do you plan on selling it in the near future?

If you plan on driving it for a long time, then go for it.
Reselling a salvage/Rebuilt title car is extremely hard.

[cband]

if it was salvaged in 2010 and now 4 years later with 50,000 more miles... I'd generally say that it was repaired fine and is good. Also some salvage cars are titled as so but are just fender benders.

[AviatorBimmer]

Also keep in my mind many insurance companies will not even insure a car with a salvaged title. Check with your current insurance company if they would insure it.

[NPI_97]

Originally Posted by e92_enthusiast_1

I think salvage titles have a stigma. If you can trust the owner and there's paperwork to document all the fixes technically the car has passed inspection and deemed structurally sound enough to be allowed on the road without being a death trap. Thing is though also after an accident on a a car or any mechanical/electrical product for that matter tend to have gremlins creep up on you.

Im sure the car is safe if the owner has been driving it for 2 years since the incident, but at the same time that may mean it doesn't handle or drive like it did when it came from Germany

[rick100]

salvage or rebuilt title cars are good for people with a low budget trying to buy cars that are too expensive for their budget.

I ve seen cars with rebuilt titles running better than cars with not accidents, as a matter of fact my old civic was involved in an accident ( not rebuilt title but you can tell the whole front end was hit pretty hard) however the car has 200 000 miles and runs better than any of the cars I had before. I haven't even put much money into it and I ve had it since 2005 .

My advice is test drive it , make sure you go on the highway and take it to a reputable shop just to make sure nothing major is wrong, other than that you can not beat the price

as a matter of fact I may get a 335 with a rebuilt title in the future for cheap that I can modify and play with .

[markus037]

stay away from it. i had a GTI with an accident on the record, whoever did the repair did a very good job but once dealers run a carfax and see accident they acted like it was the biggest POS on the road. I had the hardest time in the world getting rid of it. Ran fine and drove great but nobody wanted it.

As others have mentioned if u plan on keeping it for a long time i guess buy it. Beware once its time to get something new you will get back about half of its value.

[mt145]

Consider this: Do you plan to resell? If so, no.
I also would not pay $10,500 for a salvage title car when you can get just about the same thing with higher miles for very little less.
Also, call you insurance company, ask what they'll do if you buy it.

[Wycy]

That price seems high to me for a salvage car. The KBB value is approx $12-$13k for a car in "fair" condition. I'd have to assume a salvage title would require dropping the price well below that. Honestly, I might consider taking it for $6-7k, but not $10k.

Given how testy even new BMWs can be, I'd have less confidence in a rebuilt BMW than I would in a rebuilt, say, Honda.

I have no expert experience or anything, but that's my gut feel.

[e90coast]

I bought a friend a salvage title, but it was just rear ended. If it has extensive damage near the engine, be careful.
Btw... The car runs fine.

[NOTM3]

if you plan on keeping it and the records are there and your saving a drastic amount of money vs a non salvage id say go for it. if the difference isn't much id say stay away.

[ken1137]

Get a PPI done. I was looking into a 2010 335i a couple of yrs ago with a salvaged title, but passed based on the report. Absolutely nothing wrong with buying one, just do your homework, and keep in mind it will be difficult to sell. GL!

[Yip]

you should get a better price then that. I bought a clean title and carfax 07 328i with 42k miles for $15,000 a while back. just keep looking

[Cbozz]

Originally Posted by mansito

Stay away from it. You won't be able to sell it or trade it, or basically will have to give it away if you want to sell it.

yup +1

[litxus]

I owned few salvage cars before. Salvage cars will always rust faster around the parts that were repaired / straightened as once you damage it will always show up no matter how you repair it (even so faster in states with winter - salt). Warranty or recalls for most of them will not exist as it is "salvage". For most of them you cannot finance them and some insurance companies will not even insure them (AAA?).

I say this, if it is a work vehicle like a van or a truck which you just beat on everyday (or even a track car), then salvage is fine. Or even a cheap beater daily drive, then fine, but the more expensive you go, I would just stay away from it. An E60 M5 might sound great for $20k, but do you have extra cash laying around to replace a transmission or something major? Problem with salvage is that something might go later even though it is not apparent initially. If there is shady worksmanship (think electrical gremlins), stay away, as it will always be riddled with problems. It is one thing if you buy it yourself and repair it, but a whole another where someone repairs it with questionable skills.

[OmidHariri]

Both my parents sell cars for a living and I've owned a salvaged car. Only salvaged car they've ever bought. They regretted it, avoid them. You never know if they are fixed correctly and if the rigidity of the frame is still solid. And if you ever try to resell the car you will have a bad time

[SteveAZ]

Here's my 2 cents.....

My car in my sig....is a salvage title...I bought it cash for $17K with 25k on the clock 2 years ago. I did my homework and it was side swipped at an intersection so the passenger side front fender and door were replaced. Had a PPI done at the BMW dealership...came out clean other than they wanted to sell me a bunch of BS services...

As for warranty...forget it...they are void and they flat out told me that. Like I want them to touch it anyway...lol

When I bought it I called Geico and asked about coverage...they cover it as if it were any other car...salvage title didn't matter. Now if you need to get a loan..that may be a bit harder.

It now has 40K on it and as you can see it's clearly a toy I plan on keeping for a while. When I bought it, I knew that was going to be the case...had I planned on selling it in a couple years...no way.

So as many have said...plan accordingly. I saved between 8 and 13 grand compared to what others with more mileage were going for at the time in this area.

No regrets...haven't had any issues associated with the accident and I have obviously been through this car. Actually the only real items I've had to replace was 1 injector, a tail light, 3rd brake light, and a battery...of course there is plenty else I've done, but those were the only real failures.

If I was going to do one as a dedicated track car....especially given what I know now...I'd look for another salvage.

I think depending on the insurance people have and how much they fight...some cars gets labeled with a salvage title because the insurance is forced to write it off.

Either way...do your homework and be honest with yourself.

Good luck.

[E92-N54]

I would stay away from it. Cars with rebuilt/salvage title I noticed over time the bondo on them slowly chip away or crack over time. Gap between hood, fender, bumper, and trunk are also usually uneven. Paint/clearcoat job on rebuilt/salvage vehicles are usually bad as well (Dull or wavey).

Structural damage are hard to straighten out completely as well. The car will never be the same. Since, the car got damaged from the front and back I would stay away from it even more.

If I paid $10500 for car with rebuilt title I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.